On paper it really is no contest. The Nokia 3510i (pictured) was released in 2002 and basically has no features. No camera, no bluetooth, tiny screen.

On the other hand the Samsung U600 was released in 2007, has a 2.2 inch TFT screen, 3.2 MP camera with video, bluetooth, stereo radio, MP3 player, document viewer etc. etc.

So when my Samsung U600 broke and I had to borrow a Nokia 3510i from a friend I was not too pleased. However, I'm still using the 3510i even after my U600 has been replaced under warranty. Why?

I work in an area where signal quality is not too good. With my Samsung I always struggled to get a signal at all and put it down to the area and lack of signal strength.

When I took my Nokia into work I expected the same thing, after all I was using the same SIM card on the same network, and with it being an older phone I anticipated getting nothing at all.

In actual fact I now get a signal. Not brilliant, but enough to make and receive calls without too many problems, something that I could not do before with my "superior" handset.

Maybe the size of the handset (it is a big old beast) has something to do with it, or the fact that it is a Nokia rather than Samsung, but it really doesn't make much sense.

However when my upgrade comes in November I will be looking for a Nokia and trying it out in the building before deciding whether to buy. It is a phone, after all, and the ability to make and receive calls is more important than the flashy features that are packed into modern handsets.

So when you are looking for your next phone remember that the best phone is not always the latest one or the smartest looking one. Function over form every time.